Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary

Spot-billed pelicans (Pelecanus philippensis) at Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary

Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, India, near the village of Nelapattu. It has an area of 458.92 hectares. It is an important breeding site for spot-billed pelicans (Pelecanus philippensis).[1]

Nelapattu has two major plant communities, Barringtonia swamp forests and southern dry evergreen scrub.

Southern dry evergreen scrub covers most of the sanctuary, including the 288 hectares of Kalluru Reserved Forest and 88 hectares of unreserved forest. The dominant tree and shrub species are Manilkara hexandra, Maba buxifolia, Memicylon edule, Buchanania angustifolia, Zizyphus xylopyrus, and others.[2]

The Barringtonia swamp forests are found in the 83-ha Nelapattu tank. The predominant tree species is Barringtonia acutangula (Hijal).[3] This tree also grows in uplands, but the tree species found at Nelapattu can grow in flooded conditions lasting for 5 to 7 months. The saplings can survive total submersion during the long duration of flooding.[4]

About 187 bird species can be found at Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, 50 of which are migratory. In addition to the spot-billed pelican, it is an important breeding site for white ibis, openbill stork, night heron, and little cormorant. Other migratory water birds that visit the sanctuary include pintail, common teal, dabchick, shoveler, coot, spot-bill duck, grey heron, darter, black-winged stilt, and garganey gadwall.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Frederick, Prince. "Pelican Place". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  2. ↑ Sharma, P.K. and P. S. Rahgavaiah (2002). "Effect of Rainfall on Grey Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) Arriving and Breeding at Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh". Indian Forester, October 2002, pp. 1101-1105.
  3. ↑ Sharma, P.K. and P. S. Rahgavaiah (2002). "Effect of Rainfall on Grey Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) Arriving and Breeding at Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh". Indian Forester, October 2002, pp. 1101-1105.
  4. ↑ Rain water harvesting by fresh water flooded forests
  5. ↑ Sharma, P.K. and P. S. Rahgavaiah (2002). "Effect of Rainfall on Grey Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) Arriving and Breeding at Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh". Indian Forester, October 2002, pp. 1101-1105.


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